Monday, October 15, 2012

I picked up the new XCOM game for the PS3 yesterday. The original which came out around '94 was one of my favorite games of all time. The new incarnation has the flavor of the original that I cannot help but love it. The whole tactical aspect is amazing, and I like making my move, and then the enemy making their move.. almost like playing a boardgame, and it really motivates me to make good tactical decisions. All of the soldiers you can rename, and grow in their abilities, and you have a stake in these soldiers. Needless to say .. awesome game!!

On Sunday I went and saw the movie 'Argo' based on the Iran hostage situation of the late '70's/early '80's. I remembered this event as a kid watching the news. The film is a great movie, that continued to draw me in and empathize with its characters.

Friday, October 12, 2012

Well, I watched the new Arrow series twice, and I love it. It's very reminiscent of Batman Begins, but its got enough to differentiate it from the Bat that it stands on its own. It's also brought to us by the fine folks who gave us Smallville -- and even the director of the premiere ep. was the director of the first ep. of Smallville. But this is different in feel and in intensity which is good, and hopefully as the season progresses the writing and directing will strengthen and grow. Here's the stuff that I love about the show after its first episode:
- The 5 years Ollie spent on the Island training and fighting -- the island was not deserted, and the mystery about this island is an excellent backdrop for us to explore. There was a cool hint of Deathstroke's mask in the opening scene, which is cool, that and there are pics roaming around on the web of him
- The Queen family history is intreguing, and really makes me as a viewer want to dive into it more.
- Cameo's already showing up. .. Merlyn actually being the best friend of Ollie -- very cool, and a nodd to Green Arrow's sidekick -- Speedy; and even a foe that popped up .. Drakon.
- Green Arrow actor Stephen Amell is perfect for this role .. crap this guy is buff, and you can believe that he is the Arrow. No doubt he'll be doing his own stunts. Also, the rest of the crew are great in their roles, the cast is awesome, and it'll be cool to see what they do with their characters.

I'm very hopeful about this. Its looks good, has lots of potential, and as Green Arrow was one of my fav heroes growing up (suction cup arrows rocked!) I'm feeling the geekness. Missed the ep? Check it out on CTV.ca

Thanksgiving and Turkey Balls go so well together. Had an awesome day hanging out with friends playing board games, pretending to watch football, and eating copious amounts of Turkey (Balls) and Pumpkin Pie. Nothing really gets better than that. Board games include: Rattus, Railroad Tycoon Europe, Pandemic, and ... something else. Probably the highlight was Pandemic, because there's nothing like staving off a global disease with good friends. Speaking of Pandemic, check out what happened to World of Warcraft as a hacker used an exploit and destroyed major cities. Lots of lol, and of course Wow fixed the exploit, but still, very funny.

And for those who like to chuck their Turkeys' here's a nice link to the upcoming Walking Dead Season 2 Action Figures (by Todd McFarlane). If you haven't seen season 2, well these figures are the 'highlight' of the zombies in this season. Honestly the well zombie ... that was a freaky one ... remember folks, never lift a zombie out of a well with a rope, if he's been there for a few weeks! .. this is one to grow on. Click here for more.

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Those wanting to play Lord of the Rings Online during our Thanksgiving Holiday Monday, sorry, out of luck. Turbine's plunking down a huge patch, not that this really matters to me, but its just one of those things companies don't look into when doing these things.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

That's WiFi for us youngsters. Went into McDonalds for supper, it was a work thing .. really. Anyway, do you notice that places like Tim Hortons and McDonalds advertise 'Free Wifi' throughout the restaurants, but for the most part (maybe its just me) it doesn't work right away, but seems to turn on just as you are done eatting? No -- then tell me what the problem is; Yes? Then join me in my confused look of ..well..confusion ... As I always have this problem with my iPhone (and before that my Blackberry). Maybe its the reward from restaurants to their customers for actually leaving their establishments.

On another thought, should coffee shops have wifi to begin with? I've brought my laptop to Coffee culture to check up some important sites (ie. Facebook, Boardgame geek), and I've silently pondered whether coffee shops benefit from Wifi, or if it actually keeps people from coming in because they (me) usually spread everything out on the tables so no one can come 'into my space' because all of a sudden Coffee Culture has become my own personal office?

If I have a laptop in a coffee shop there is a certain string of thought going through my mental processes that goes something like this: "ok now I'm almost done my coffee, should I get another one right away so that I can justify me being here? Or should I just tap on my keyboard so that staff will think that I'm too busy for them to pay attention to and so I can sneak more time on my computer instead of feeling guilty that I'm in a shop and I'm taking up table space? Hmm maybe I should have a donut or something, but I don't want the crumbs to gum up my keyboard, or worse, my fingers become covered in delicious sweet chocolate and then dirties my keyboard... then what? Do I ask for a napkin, or will the employees give me dirty looks because I shouldn't stay as long as I already have? Maybe I'll grab another coffee so I can slurp it down reeeaaalllly slow .. then it looks like I'm a customer who will leave the shop so someone can have the table I'm hogging, when I'm done my coffee but I'm a slow coffee drinker so it'll take a long time, thereby I don't have to feel the least bit guilty when people come in to find a seat but don't find one."

All of a sudden something that should be a great cozy experience becomes a rush of choices .. all because the coffee shop has wifi. But perhaps its part of a larger picture ... perhaps its customers like me that the coffee shops want.

By offering free Wifi the resturaunt shows that they are offering something FREE, something of service to us the customers ... but this is a subcounscous ploy, in reality they don't want new people always coming in sitting down .. they need people like me, who stay for endless hours taking up table space because:
a) It means that they have to do less cleaning, because there are less customers coming and going.
b) Though people may come in, order their food and become disgruntled, in the end, they will come back because they won't blame the restaurant for the lack of seats, but the fat guy (me) who is a customer with a laptop that takes up too much space.
c) and the have a chance to make evil eyes at someone and play mindgames with that person checking boardgame geek, or at least all that said person to continue to have those said thoughts.
Want proof of this? Remember before wifi, there were posters in Tim Hortons telling customers that they could only stay for 15-30 minutes for coffee? Where are those signs now? Exactly!

So Wifi is good for me, good for the stores, and good for the environment .. ok, perhaps not but it sounds good. (ie Say anthing with 'its good for the environment' and your social standing has gone up at least 10 pts. in the eyes of someone you'll never see again) .. So stores, please make my Wifi work on my iPhone .. please..it helps me help you look good.

Friday, October 5, 2012

So I just came back from seeing Taken 2 in theaters. Its was awesome, with sprinkles!! Now is it as good as the original? Heck no, but it would be impossible since the original not only had sprinkles but it was dipped in caramel and topped with whipcream while coming with a coffee. I love reading the reviews of this movie, and I'm trying to wonder what the critics thought that Taken 2 was going to be about. Because the movie got slagged for it's repeat premise .. but .. its Taken 2!

Anyway, this movie had lots of great action, not enough, but it was still great. The chemistry between Liam's character and the daughter and mother is really what keeps the movie going, and I have warm fuzzy's whenever the characters interact. I'm a softy that way.

What the movie is lacking is the action, while it was great, it could of been better, with more interesting fight scenes, and many times it was being cut too fast. I want to see some awesome moves, not bumpy camera movement on the action parts. Also, the final scene between Liam and the bad guy, whatever his name is (really .. it doesn't matter does it?) was ... weird.... I'll just say that or else I'll spoil for ya.

A friend of mine from work gave me this great Butternut Squash soup recipe, and I made it! It tastes like a sweet potato type soup, but best yet, its pretty done healthy, and all the ingredients are very much available at this time of year.
Ingredients: 3 leaks, 1 Butternut squash, 5 Granny apples, 1-2 onions, salt and pepper. Also some Chicken boulion .. 2 cups worth.

First cut up the squash and peel it and place it in a container that has about 2 cm o' water in it, place it in the oven for an hour at 400 -- when its done, the squash should be soft.

In a separate bowl place: 5 peeled and cut up apples, 3 leaks (ONLY the white parts) cut up, and the cut up onion together.

In a pot, place 2 tbsp. o' oil, and when its hot, pour in the onion, apples, and leaks. Put it on med, until its all soft.

When that's done, pour in the boulion and stir.

Drain the Squash, and then put that into the pot with the rest of the stuff. Let this simmer for 10 min. Add salt and pepper.

Then put everything in a blender/food processor until it's smooth/puraid and then place in bowls, or like I did put it all in a crock pot to let all the flavours come together.

The best part about this recipe is that its all natural, no additives, and its got a nice natural sweetness. Should be tasty with some sandwiches.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Ha, haven't blogged in a bit, but here's a recap of my life yesterday:

a) car backed into my car while doing my Schooling. All is well, and not even a scratch... good stuff.

b) Found out that I can do my Schooling over my phone, through the handy new app 'GoToMeeting'. Great stuff ... except for that whole car crash thingy.

c) Played Arkham Horror at the Giddy Goblin game shop for the first time. Great game, and lots of nice variant through the cards. Not into that whole horror thing, but the 1930's setting is great.

d) McDonald's Monopoly game is out woot! .. but if you win food and stuff, you have to go into the restaurant, and can't cash in through the take-out window .. which sucks. BTW you also have to answer a math question (answer 38) and sign away your life. Seriously!! Way to much work for a freebee ... like Timmies contests so much better.

e) Got home at 10:30 -- watched Iron Sky with the commentary .. really a great movie.

Updated life of Today ...

a) Finished watching Iron Sky with commentary .. still loved it.

b) Woke up with a leg cramp.. seems to happen every time I'm gaming for long periods of time at Giddy Goblin ... must be the seats. Gotta remember to stand more often.

c) Went to Tim Hortons, and enjoyed the new Pumpkin Spice Muffin .. so crazy good.

d) Watched a new Geek and Sundry video on Pandemic. So love that game.

e) ... CRAP CRAP CRAP >>@.@ I picked up the Wow Pandaran expansion... crazy stupid .. but ... I like Pandas .. is that so wrong?!?! Crazy it is!! But its ... pandas ... how can .. I not play?!?!